Station-indicator.



m E] u 5 Z 2 E-- m m S U] Q 1 "L No. 739,878. PATENTED SEPT. 29, 1903.

- J. JACKSON.

STATION INDIGATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15. 1903.

N0 MODEL K J" Wizsc Q t l efor,

' UNITED STATES Patented September 29, 1903 "Joint JACKSON, orGRANDOANE, LOUISIANA.

'STATION-INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 739,878, datedSeptember 29, 1903.

Application filed June 15, 1903. Serial No. 161,577. (No model.)

tion.

This invention relates to that class of devices which are knowngenerally as stationindicators and which are used in passengercoaches ofrailways and trains for the purpose of indicating for the information ofthe passengers the name of the next station at which a stop is expectedto be made.

My invention has for its object to produce a device of this class whichshall possess superior advantages in point of simplicity, durability,andgeneral efficiency; and with these ends in view it consists in theimproved construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, which willbe hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in theclaims. In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one form ofembodiment of my invention; but it is to be understood that I do notlimit myself to the structural details therein set forth, inasmuch asdepartures from the same may be made with regard to the shape,proportion, and general assemblage of parts without departing from thescope of the in vention.

In said drawings, Figure l is a front eleva-.

tion of a device constructed in accordance with the. principles of myinvention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2 .2 inFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional;viewtaken on the line 4. 4. in Fig. 2. f

Corresponding parts in the several figures are indicated by similarnumerals of'reference. 7 V

In the form of embodiment of my'invention illustrated in the drawingshereto annexed 1 designates a casing, which in this instance consists ofside pieces 2 2, preferably made of wood and having curved upper andlower ends 3 3, and a front piece 4, which is preferably constructed ofsheet metal and which is nailed or otherwise secured to the side pieces2 2, as Well as to the curved ends 3 of the latter, the front piece 4being thus bent to form the upper and lower end pieces 5 5, theextremities of which are bent to form flanges 6, through which nails,screws, or other fastening means for mounting the device in its properposition may be passed.

The front piece 4 is provided with a slot 7 in the face thereof, andbehind this slot is arranged a cross-piece 8,-spa'cing the side pieces 22 of the device. The cross-piece 8 should be spaced from the front piece4. merely sufficiently to admit of the passage of the apron 9, bearingthe names of the stations, as will bepresently set forth.

The sides 2 2 of the casing are provided above and below the cross-piece8 with bearings for shafts 10 and 11, carrying rollers 12 and 13, whichare mounted securely upon said shafts, which latter extend throughperforations in the side pieces which form the bearings. v The bearingsmay be reinforced by metal plates, such as shown at 14.,upon the innersides of the side pieces. The roll.- ers 12 and 13 are shorter than thedistance between the side pieces 2 2, and between'one of said sidepieces and the adjacent ends of the rollers are interposed springs 15,coiled upon the said shafts. These springs naturally tend to force therollers in the direction washers 17 upon the ends of theroller-shaftsopposite to the ends having the coiled springs. These collars *orwashers 17 are intended to serve, in conjunction with the springs 15, tocreate snfli'cient friction to prevent the rollershafts from beingaccidentally rotated. The collars or washers 17 may, as in the drawingshereto annexed, be made integral with the rollers, as may be shafts ofthe latter.

The ends of the roller-shafts which'by the action of the springs 15 arenormally projected beyond the side pieces 2,in which they are journaled, are provided with winding-posts or are otherwise adapted to beengaged by means of a suitable key whereby they may be rotated.Pivotally mounted upon the side of the casing through which the saidroller-shafts extend is a lever 18, which is preferably made of elasticmaterial and which may be shifted so as to press either of theroller-shafts against the tension of the spring 15, thus tensionally ofthe opposite side 2, where recesses 16 are. provided, which are engagedby collars or holding it against rotation by its exercise of additionaltension against the tension of the spring 15,

The apron 9, which is wound upon the rollers 12 and 13, is attached atits ends to both of said rollers. Hence by winding the apron upon one ofsaid rollers it will be unwound from the other. Printed or otherwiseinscribed upon the face of the apron in letters of sufficient size to bereadily observed are the names of various .stations, &c., to which itmay be desired to direct the attention of the passengers.

The operation of this invention will be readily understood. The deviceis set by the conductor or porter of the train immediately after leavingeach station by simply turning the shaft of the appropriate roller bymeans of a key with which the operator is provided. While the roller isbeing. turned an inward pressure should be exerted upon it by means ofthe key, thereby avoiding undue friction. The spring-lever 18 isnormally in engagement with the projecting end of the shaft of theroller from which the apron is being unwound.

claim 1. In a station-indicator, a casing having a slot and providedwith recesses formed interiorly in one of the sides thereof, acrosspiece disposed transversely behind said slot, apron-carryingrollers journaled in the sides of the casing above and below saidcrosspiece, tension-springs coiled upon one end of each roller-shaftbetweenthe roller and the adjacent side of the casing, andfriction-collars upon the roller-shafts engaging the recesses in theopposite side of the easing.

2. In a station-indicator, a casing, shafts journaled in the sides ofsaid casing, aproncarrying rollers upon said shafts, spring means forforcing said rollers in the direction of one side of the casing throughwhich the shafts of said rollers are thus projected, and a spring-levermounted exterior-1y upon. the casing and adapted to engage theprojecting ends of the roller-shafts.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN JACKSON.

Witnesses:

C. A. DOUGLAS, J r., W. H. THOMPSON.

